examination of the heart 154 according to God’s heart acted, as he himself testified: “In my distress I cry to the Lord that [H]e may answer me” (Ps 120:1). Hence, do not surrender immediately after the first or even the thousandth enemy attack on your soul, but resist him as long as he keeps attacking you, even if it should continue throughout your whole life. The more often you are victorious, the more often you receive the laurel crown; the harder the fight, the greater the reward. The divine help will be given to you if you ask for it. Jesus pretended to sleep when He allowed these attacks on you. He is asleep whenever you are troubled, therefore you must awaken Him by powerful, humble, and constant prayer to receive help. Why don’t you, the wretched one, sinking and nearly drawn by your evil deeds into the abyss of hell, shout out: “Lord, save me, I perish”? Should He embark today on the boat of your heart, doubt not that He does so to guide, help, and save you. After Holy Communion 1. “Then [H]e rose and rebuked the winds and the sea” (Mt 8:26). I know, Jesus, that Your power is so great that You can free me in an instant from all spiritual oppression and restore the greatest sense of relief to the troubled and distressed spirit. Indeed, You do it for no other reason than because You know me to be too fearful to endure these storms and too weak to oppose their strength. [f.20v] But then, I most especially feel peace restored to my soul when You, the gentlest Prince of Peace, enter the chamber or the dwelling of my heart. I recognize Your goodness as You support me with Your arm just in time to keep me from falling down under the force of the tempests. However, my Lord, knowing that it is of the highest merit and that it pleases You greatly, when I preserve a strong and unchanging spirit in any abandonment, for Your glory I desire to be abandoned sometimes so that You may be glorified more, while I may be humbled by the powerful hand of my enemies. Therefore, arrange everything around me gently and prudently. You know how to turn a trial to our advantage (cf. 1 Cor 10:13):
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